As I’m sure many of you have noticed, there have been a lot of changes here at Harrison Dental. They are good changes, but even so, sometimes change can be hard. I wanted to take a moment to let you all know why we have so many new faces! We have added 4 new positions to our office! That is incredible growth and we are so happy to be stimulating Idaho’s work force. One of our Core values here is to provide quality employment opportunities. I hope when you come visit us you get a chance to meet our new team members. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones. Thank you for choosing us to be your dental home and become a part of our extended family!

We recently had one of Boise’s shining stars in our office for a front tooth repair. Because he is so fun and outgoing and he wanted to show his son about dentistry, he asked us not to put a temporary crown on the tooth for the afternoon.

The team here at Harrison Dental has a big summer coming up, so in light of that we will be taking Fridays off. The last Friday we will be working is June 1st, 2012. Please call today if you need a Friday appointment so we can get you in before our break.
We have our anual staff summer trip planned for July 28th. We are looking forward to rafting! We’ll make sure to post some pictures after we’re done.
We all hope you have a safe and happy summer. Please give us a call if you have any dental needs, it is our pleasure taking care of you and your families.

This just-released study from the American Heart Association confirms what we’ve been coming to realize for several years: bad oral hygiene is bad for the heart.

The study, including 51,000 people in Taiwan, found that:

Patients who had professional tooth scraping and cleaning had reduced risks of heart attack and stroke.

More frequent scraping/cleaning was associated with more reduced risk compared to occasional or never tooth scraping/cleaning.

In a separate study from Sweden, the type of periodontal disease predicted degree of risks for heart attack, stroke and heart failure. These and other studies were submitted to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2011.

Regular cleanings are more than just for appearance and keeping your teeth. It’s believed that the bacteria from inflamed gums enter the bloodstream and damage the heart over time. Regular cleanings are important for a happier and longer life.

While I am not a veteran, I do have a soft spot for veterans and Harrison Dental’s main charity work consists of assisting veterans, mostly from the VA Nursing Home, also in Boise’s North End. The VA is limited in its dental services and appreciates the assistance of a full-service dental office like Harrison Dentalto supplement their care.

My appreciation for veterans is a legacy of my parents, both of whom served in WWII. My father, Leland, was an officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean and my mother Dove was a nurse in the Army Air Corps. She card for injured pilots in the middle of the corn fields of Nebraska.

Leland Fife was an officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean during World War II

They were married on a short leave in the middle of the war and, after a honeymoon of just a couple of days, went back to their respective posts. I think they spent less than 30 days together during the first two years of their married lives – truly a sacrifice.

They made up for lost time, though, and were married 66 years! My dad passed away last year at 91 and my mom is still going strong and will be 91 in February 2012.

My parents leave a legacy of a strong marriage, great family and service to their nation. I was never drafted or asked to serve, so I cannot say I am a veteran. However, the good example my parents set has made a lifelong impression on me and I think that is one reason why I dedicate my skills and time to assist needy veterans.

At Harrison Dental, we place a priority on staying up-to-date with the latest technology, methods and training. That includes, for example, same-day crowns with the computer-aid E-4D system, as well as mini-implants.

Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements for broken, damaged and missing teeth. When compared to traditional implants, the mini dental implant procedure is faster, less invasive and provides immediate results. No incisions in the gums are necessary, nor are there any stitches to be removed later. Because of the smaller implant size, bone grafting is rarely needed. The mini implants are placed in the jawbone and fixed with a special attachment that fits into the bottoms of any attached appliances.

Mini dental implants are similar to traditional implants, but can be placed in a single procedure. Traditional implants, by contrast, require a two-part procedure and a significant healing interval before results can be seen.

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to tooth decay and by age 74, more than a quarter of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. In many cases, dental implants – and especially the mini implants offered at Harrison Dental in Boise’s North End – are a good alternative to dentures.

About Harrison Dental

Harrison Dental is a full-service dental office in Boise's North End. We offer general dental cleaning, cavity filling, the latest in teeth whitening techniques (such as Zoom) and same-day crowns with the E-4D system. Why wait two weeks for a new tooth when we can have it for you the same afternoon?